Feeler mechanism for looms



I. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FUR LOOMS- APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, I920.

1 ,405,451 I Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

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IS ,0 snow, or LAWRENCE, mssacnusn'r'rs-assronon 'ro nun cbnronierion,

or nornnnnn, mnssecnusnrrs, n conronnrron or MAINE.

Mean.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Isaac Snow, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and tate of Massachusetts, have ipvented an Improvement in F eeler MeEhanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like characters on the drawings representing.

like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanlsms for looms, whereby the operative condition of the loom is changed or filling rcnecessary waste of yarn results, while on the other hand,- if the filling be not replenished before complete exhaustion of that in the shuttle, imperfect cloth will be woven.-

' Many forms of feeler mechanisms have been suggested, each having for its general purpose the accomplishment of the abovestated results, andamong the types of mechanisms heretofore proposed, is that known as the inclined feeler,-shown and described in the patent to Edward S. Stim son, No. 1,309,226, dated July 8, 1919. T e feeler mechanism of the present invention is of this general type, and one of the purposes thereof is to provide a mechanism in which the feeler is of the inclined type, and which will be efiective in operation and simple in construction, and at the same time be res onsive either to the presence or absence of fi ling in the shuttleon a detecting beat.

I The features of the present invention and novel combination of parts will best be understood from the following description and accompanyin drawings of one good, practi- In the drawings Figure 1 is a mechanism of t e present invention. and the relation of its parts when filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat;

4 r mncnnnrsiu' ron LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1plan view showing'the feeler Patented Feb. '2, 1922.

Application filed July 22, 1920. serial No. 898,256.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the position of the parts oi the feelermechanism when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the feeler so mechanism showing the parts in feeling position. t

The feeler of the presentmechanism is' supported to extend rearwardly in a direction inclined to the path of movement of the lay or, inclined to the longitudinal axis oi"; the shuttle, and when the filling issubstan tially exhausted on a detecting beat, the frontwa'rd pressure upon the end of the inclined feeler tends to slide the engaging end longitudinally along the filling-carrier or bobbin. This -inovement of the feeler is permissible by reason of itssupport which is preferably-constituted by guides on a feeler stand, and between the guides the feeler is connected to spring-actuated means 1 confining its swinging. movement, its movement longitudinally of the shiittle, about an axis which is preferably, thou h not necessarily, between the ides. The spring-actuated meansfor maintaining the feeler in its rearward feeling position, yet with permissive sliding andswingin movement frontwardlyand along the filling cardrawings herein, to illustrate the filling replenishlng'mechanism, or the particular details of the connection between the feeler mechanism and the re lenishing mechanism for effecting replenis ment of filling, be cause such mechanism is now well understood in the art.

The loom frame 1, only a portion of which is indicated in Fig. 3, has connected to itadjus'tabl a feeler, carrier 2. which may. be convenient y constituted by. a plate having a slot 3 by which it -can be adjustablyw secured to the loom frame by means of a bolt 4.

Mounted on the feeler stand for sliding and swinging movement is the feeler 5 which extends rearwardly' in an inclined direction, 311

' lit will be noted that both these-guides have elongated lateral slots so that the feeler may swing in each of the guides, as well as be moved frontwardly and rearwardly therein.

' Rising from the teeler stand 2 is a stud or pin 8 on which is mounted for rotary movement a pinion 9. The pinion 9 has its teeth engaged with the teeth 10 formed as a rack and carried by the feeler, the construction being such that should the pinion 9 be rotated on its axis, the t'eeler 5 will be correspondingly moved or reciprccated.

A spring 11 is wound about the stud'or pin 8, and one end or the spring, as at 12, is secured in fixed position, or to the stud 8, while the other end of the spring atlS is secured to the pinion, the torsional effect of the spring being utilized to move the feelerrearwardly into feeling position through the rack and pinion connection, as above described.

The springll, which thus acts upon the ieeler, is mounted independently of the feeler, and its axis is substantially at right angles to the plane of feeler movement. The tension of the spring 11 may be varied by adjusting the stud or pin 8.

In order that the feeler. may remain under the control of the torsional spring 11 as it moves frontwardly and rearwardly and swings longitudinally of the shuttle, pro vision is made for movement of the feeler laterally in the guides 6 and 7, and devices are associated with the rack and pinion mechanism for holding themv in engaged relation as the teeler partakes of its several movements.

lln the present instance of the invention, the feeler 5 has two leg portions 14 and 15, and between these leg portions of the ieeler, the spring 11 and its associated connections with the'feeler, are preferably located. The leg 14 has the rack teeth 10 preferably formed thereon or integral therewith. Between the l-eg 15 and the pinion 9 is an idle raclr'16, the teeth 17 or which engage the pinion 9 opposite the rack teeth 10, the construction being such that as the pinion is rotated, either by frontward pressure upon thev teeler or by the rearward movement of the teeler under the torsional action of the spring 11, the two racks will be moved in reverse directions. Thus, when the "feeler is moved frontwardlyl on a detecting beat, as indicated in Fig. 1, the rack teeth 10 turn the mower cating the frontwardly-extending portion of the feeler.

When the teeler is moved rearwardly unare der the action of the spring 11, it should be returned to proper feeling position, that is, to its rearward position inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle. A suitable stop and restoring device may be employed for this purpose, a good, practical form thereof being herein shown as a lateral projection 18 which is adapted to engage a pin 19 rising from the feeler stand 2. The projection 18 has a cam surface 20 which, as the teeler is moved rearwardly by the torsional action of the spring 11, engages the stop or pin 19 and by its inclined or cam relation with the length of the feeler, throws the front end portion of the feeler laterally about the axis of the spring 11 or pinion 9 as a centre, so that the rear end portion of the feeler, which carries the teeth 21, is moved laterally in the opposite direction into. proper feeling position about the axis of the spring 11 as a centre.

The shuttle 22 is indicated in the drawings, but the lay, which of course is provided with the usual shuttle-box,is omitted. The front wall of the shuttle is slotted as at 23, for the entrance of the *feeler, and a simi lar slot, as usual, is formed in the front wall ot-the shuttle-box, but such form of shuttlebox and its slotted front wall being well known, it is not deemed necessary to illus-v trate this detail. The shuttle 22 has the usual bobbin-holding jaws 24 which engage the usual rings on the head or base'ot' the bobbin 25.

W hen the filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the engaging end 21 of the feeler 5 contacts with the filling, and owing to the inclined position of the teeler relative to the longitudinal axis of the shutvtle, the feeler will be moved frontwardlyand given a slight swinging movement about the axis of the spring 11 or the pinion 911$ a centre; and owing to the toothed end engaging the filling, the feeler will not slip or slide along the filling carrier or bobbin. When .the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, however, the end 21 of the feeler will fail to be held-from slipping longitudinally along the filling carrier "or bobbin on a detecting beat, and as a consequence, the feeler will bemoved by the frontward pressure into substantially the position indicated in Fig. 2, that is, its toothed end will slide, along the filling carrier or bobbin and it will be given a greater amplitude of movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle than in its normal stroke when filling is present in the shuttle. It may also be moved frontwardly somewhat. v

In order to utilize the movement of the feeler in a direction'longitudinally of the shuttle, which occurs when the filling is substantially exhausted, as above described, the present invention employs connections between the feeler and replenishing mecha--- nism to effect replenishment of filling when the feeler is thus moved. Various types of connections may be'employed, but, in the present instance the feeler stand has pivotally mounted thereon at 26, the swinging lever 27, the rear end portion 28 of which is normally in a position to be engaged by the.

feeler 5 only when the rear end of the feeler slips or slides along the filling carrier or bobbin on a detecting beat, so that normally the lever 27 will remain quiescent when the filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, but will be swung upon its pivotal support when the filling is substantially exhausted. The swinging lever 27 has connected thereto a transmitter 29 which may be formed as a rod pivotally connected to the swinginglever 27 at 30.

From the construction described it will be-appa'rent that while the feeler is normally supported in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, and is given afront-ward and a swinging movement 'under' the varying conditions of its use, its swing-.

ing movement is about a centre corresponding to the axis of the spring coils 11 or the pinion 9 with reference to which the feeler may move toward and from the front of the loom, and also swinginglaterally.

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler supported in a posi-,

tion and for movement inclined to the longitudinalaxis of theshuttle and held from I replenishment of filling, a spring, and rack and pinion connections between the spring and feeler constructed and arranged to move the feeler into its rearward inclined position and permit the feeler to move frontwardly and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. v

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler supported in a position andfor movement inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and held from ishment of filling, a spring mounted independent of the feeler, and rack and pinion connections between thespring and, feeler constructed 'and arranged to move the feeler substantially ex austed for eifecting repleninto its rearward inclined position and permit the feeler to move frontwardly and 1n a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported in a position and for movement inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and held from movem'ent along the filling carrier by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of filling, means actuated by the movement of the feeler along the filling carrier when the filling is substantially exhausted for effecting replenislr ment of filling, a spring, a stud on which the spring is mounted, and rack and pinion connections between the spring and'feeler con-.

structed and arranged to move the feeler into its rearward inclined position and permit the feeler to move frontwardly and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

4:. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported in a posimeans actuated by the movement ofv the feeler along the filling carrier when the filling is substantially exhausted for efl'eetin replenishment of filling, a spring, a stu about which the spring is mounted, a toothed wheel to which one end of the spring is secured, a rack carried by the feelerand meshing with the toothed wheel to convert the unwinding tendency of the spring into movement of the feeler to rearward position.

5. In combination of a feeler supported in a position and for movement inclined to the longitudinal axisof the shuttle and held from movement along the filling carrier by ongagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of filling,

means actuated b the movement of the =feeler along the fil ing carrier when the filling is substantially exhausted for effecting a feeler mechanism for looms, the.

replenishment of filling, a spring the coils of which are about an axis ,at substantially a right angle to the plane of movement of the feeler, a member actuated by the spring combination of a feeler that is mounted to.

slide toward and from the front of the loom in a direction inclined to the lay movement and that is held from movement lengthwise of the filling carrier or bobbin in the shuttle by engagement with the filling on a detect ing beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, a series of rack teeth carried by the 'feeler, a pinion engaging the rack teeth on,

the feeler, a spring which acts through the pinion and rack teeth to return the feeler,

to rearward position after it has been. displaced frontwardly, and means for adjustin the tension of the spring.

In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination ofa feeler that is supported for swinging movement and for movement towards and from the front of the loom in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, a front and a rear ide through which the feeler extends, means positioned between said guides for confining the swinging movement of the. feeler about an axis between the front and rear guides as the feeler is displaced by the pressure upon it, and a spring mounted at the axis of swinging movement of the feeler and adapted to yieldingly move the feeler rearwardly 8. A feeler mechanism for looms, having, in combinatiom'a side slipping sliding and swinging feeler which is moved frontwardly and backwardly' during the normal runnin of. the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and slips in a direction longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin in the shuttle on a detecting beat when the filling is substantially exhausted. front and rear fixed guides through which the feeler extends for movement laterally and longitudinally, means between the guides for confining the swinging movement of the feeler about an axis between the front .and rear guides, and means acting upon the feeler to yieldingly move it rearwardly.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand having a pivot pin, a feeler su ported on the stand to enter the shuttle an for movement towards and from the front of the loom in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, feeler positioning means adapted to forma connection between the feeler and pivot pin which permits the feeler to swing about I the pin as a fixed axis and to slide relatively to the pin, and a spring adapted to actuate the feeler pos1tion1ng means to move the feeler rearwardlyo agaoacm 10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on the stand for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also longitudinally, of the shuttle, a rack carried by the feeler, a pinion engaging the rack, a spring connected to the pinion, and means for maintaining the rack and pinion in engagement as the feeler is given its frontward, rearward, and said longitudinal movements.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler mounted on the stand for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also longitudinally of the shuttle, a rack carried by the feeler, a pinion engaging the rack, a pin or stud supporting the pinion, a spring connected to the pinion, and means for maintaining the rack and pinion in engagement as the feeler is given its frontward, rearward, and said longitudinal movements.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combinationof an inclined feeler, front and rear guides in which the feeler may move, a rack connected to'the feeler, a pinion engaging the rack between the front andrear guides, a spring normally acting through the stack and pinion to move the feeler to its rearward position, means for holding the rack and pinion engaged as the feeler is moved, and a stop for limiting the rearward movement of the feeler.

13. A feeler mechanism for looms having, in combination, a side slipping sliding,

and swinging feeler which is moved frontwardly and baclrwardly during the normal running of the loom along a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and slips in a direction longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin in the shuttle on a detecting heat When the filling is substantially exhausted, guides through which the. feeler extends, a rotatable member operatively connected to the feeler to move it rearwardly and adapted to form a pivotal support for the feeler, a spring for rotating said member to yieldingly move the feeler rearwardly, and'a' shoulder upon the feeler positioned to engage a fixed stop as the feeler moves rearwardly to swing the feeler about said pivot to thefeeling position.

M. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler'having leg portions, one of which is provided with a rack, a pinion between the leg ortions engaging the rack, and means coacting with the other leg portion for holding the rack and pinion engaged during movement of the feeler.

combination of a feeler having leg portions, oneof which is provided with a rack, a pinion between the leg portions engaging the rack, means coactmg with the other leg 15. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

moment p portion for holding the rack and pinion engaged during movement of the feeler, and a spring connected to the pinion.

16. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination ofa feeler having a rack and an arm spaced from the rack, a pinion engaging said rack, an idle rack between the arm and pinion and adapted to maintain engagement between the pinion and racks, and a spring for yieldingly urging the feeler rearwardly.

17. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a side slipping, sliding, and swinging feeler which is moved frontwardly in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle by engagement with the filling on each detecting beat and slips along the filling carrier or bobbin by the frontward pressure upon it when the filling is substantially exhausted, a rotatable actuator connected to the feeler between the front and rear ends thereof and about which the feeler may swing as apivot, means for ro-.

tating the actuator, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ISAAC SNOW. 

